Grew up in one. A single-wide actually. Wasn’t intended for a family of five. Long fiery orange shag carpet. Golden, crushed-velvet furniture topped it off royally. Not much but we would have never known.
We made tents inside on breathless hot summer days by placing sheets over the a/c vents then carefully slid under to enjoy the cool. Climbed tall solid trees and swung from power lines. Belly crawled through ditches to find the best mud for pie making. Ran barefoot through clover filled grass and stepped on many a bumblebee. Collected strays for pets. Drank ice-cold water from the spigot. Roller skated on spare plywood. Even swam laps in 12” deep kiddie pools. Most importantly we kept the dusty roads to our friend’s well worn. Happy. We were happy.
Here I find myself in a quaint trailer camp in Holland near Amsterdam at De Betteld.
It means ‘House of God’. No matter where I lay my head. I find that I’m safe in His ‘house’. His presence. He encircles me!
And the joy that can be known in a little tin home overwhelms my soul. He’s been with me in all my days. Led me to the light of each new pass of the sun. He’s been calling me nearer since I was a little girl. Like he called to Samuel he calls to you and me. As many times as it takes for us to respond, He calls. What a great and patient God.
See, He’s looking for a resting place. A dwelling place and of His very own. And by His will & choosing, His delight, His passion He elected us to be His tabernacle!
He reminded me of that truth in a trailer park halfway ’round the world.
Even in my pursuit of Him… He is still pursuing me! And with that He deposits that same passion for pursuit in my deepest being.
He tags us all with His love for the lost, the broken, the hurting. Much of the world lie in wait for us to visit their trailer park. The oppressed of China. The orphaned in Africa. The cut off of North Korea. The refugees in Lebanon… The war torn soldier in the middle east. The foster child #4, 7, or 10. The sex slave nearly in our own back yard.
On every continent! In every corner there are empty tabernacles waiting to be filled with the beauty of His presence. May we never dismiss His leading or pursuing. May our ears be attuned ever more and our tabernacles be filled with longing of the greatest lover- Love! May He be recognized and welcomed into every palace and trailer the whole earth round.
Regina Jones 